





ma 



!-■]';■■• ■','.■ 












*. '-i^t^^ 



\y 



, %,^^ :im 






.0' 






V". 













,•1°^ 
















■j^ ..^ ♦*. 



vV.>-^ 






:*• ^ -j^'"-^ ^^41^^ _^^ '^ -^^ 























>^ ^-^^^.^"^^ 




















^oV 






















v3^ 'o , , 



y V 


























"J^C,^ 







•^-o^ 










"^p-i" 



<^ 



.*'% 













V' .^L^'. o. 






















'h. - 



«-» -JO, 



'b V 





jPv- 



.*'% 












-.- .■^'^ 



'^ c ° " " ■» ■'^ 




,,-4^" . 

























.^^ ''^. 








-^0^ 




^°-^<^. 




• .V 















'b v 

= ..' 0^ \/^^'\/^ V"^*V°'' X'^^"^'\^^' \.">^^*/ 

^^../ .^I«^'o %,^^ ;^\ \/ ,^'» %,^^ ;^\ \/ -'^ 










."^ ^^-.. 










^°-<^^ 



» . ' .0 

. D^ . ' • 










^°-^^. 







ALL THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED 

ARE HEREBY RESPECTFULLY INVITED TO ATTEND 

THE CEREMONIES OF THE DEDICATION OF 

BUTTS HILL FORT 

ERECTED BY THE BRITISH DURING THE REVOLUTION 
AND REMAINING TODAY PRACTICALLY UNCHANGED 

It is situated on a commanding hill some ten miles 
from the City of Newport. 

fl This fort was the center of the American Forces in the Battle of Rhode 
Island, an action which reflected great honour upon American troops. 

fl The one hundred and forty-fifth anniversary of this battle occurs on 
August 29th, during the afternoon of which day, fi'om two until five, exer- 
cises will be held in the fort. Those present will be able to witness the 
events of the battle reenacted by the forces of the Army and Navy under 
Colonel William R. Doores, of Fort Adams, with the cooperation of Captain 
Franck Taylor Evans, of the Naval Training Station, together with the 
Newport Artillery and the Bristol Train of Artillery. 

Literary exercises will follow at which a short history of the battle will 
be given and addresses made by distinguished visitors. 

q Butts Hill Fort and Fort Barton in Tiverton have lately been presented 
to the Newport Historical Society. 



HONORARY COMMITTEE OF INVITATION 



F^7 



^o.l 



His Excellency, WILLIAM S. FLYNN, Gov. of Rhode Islaml. 

His Excellency. K. LIVINGSTON BEECKMAN, 

ExGov. of Uhock" Ishmd. 

HON. LeBARON B. colt. v. S. Senator. 

Hii.N. PETER G. GERRY. U. S. Senator. 

Hon. CLARK BUROICK, V. S. ConRressman 

Hon. MORTIMER A. SULLIVAN, Mayor of Newport. 

Hhn. ARTHUR A. SHERMAN. R. I. Senator from Portsmouth. 

Hon. JOHN H. GREENE, Jr., R. I. Senator from Newport. 

Hon. frank F. GRINNKLL. K. I. Senator from Tiverton. 

Shkkifi'. JAMES ANTHONY, of Newport County. 

DkI'IJTV SuKRlFF. FRANK I'. KING, of Newport County. 

WILLIAM B. ANTHONY, 

President of Portsmouth Town Council. 

Rt. Rkv. JAMES Dk WOLFE, PERRY, I). I)., 

President of The Cincinnati in Rhode Island. 

WINSLOW WARREN, 

President of The Cincinnati in Massachusetts. 

HENRY L. ABBOTT, 

Honorary President of The Cincinnati in Connecticut. 

Pkesiuknt of Thk CiNilNNATl in New Hampshire. 
GEORGE S. BRYANT, President Sons of Revolution in R. I. 
MRS. W. W. COVELL, Regent William Ellery Chapter, D.A.R. 
MRS. PHILIP WILBOR, Regent William Barton Chapter, D. A. R. 
WILLIAM B. GREENOUGH, 

Governor Society Colonial Wars in Rhode Island. 

AUDISON P. MONROE, 

President Sons of American Revolution in Rhode Island, 
H. T. REMINGTON, President Sons of Revolution in New York. 

HENRY W. SACKETT, 

President Sons of American Revolution in New Y'ork. 
WILLIAM S BAILi^Y, Co. nailer G. A. R., Newport. 
ARCHIE BURDICK, Commander Spanish War Veterans. 

JAMES B. LAWLESS, 

Commander Veterans of Foreign Wars, Newport. 

GRACE M. E. WATSON, 

Commander Auxiliary, V. F. W., Newport. 

HENRY A. TITUS, President Newport Chamber of Commerce. 

W. C. CAMPBELL, Secretary Newport Chamber of Commerce. 



MA.IOH General ANDRE W. BREWSTER, U. S. A., 

Commanding 1st Corps Area. 
Colonel WILLIAM R. DOORES, Commandant Fort Adams. 
Rear Apmihal CHARLES S. WILLIAMS, 

President U. S. Naval War College. 

Captain FRANCE TAYLOR EVANS, 

Commandant Naval Training Station. 

Major General JAMES PaRKER (Retired). 

Rear Admiral WILLIAM S, SIMS i Retired i. 

Buigadikr General CHARLES W. ABBOTT, R. I. Militia. 

Colonel WILLIAM KNOWE, Newport Artillery. 

Brigadier General HERBERT W. BLISS. 

Gi.NERAL GEORGE M. COLE, Commander Militia of Conn. 

Gknkkai. JESSE F. STEVENS, C.mmander Militia of Mass. 

CoMMANliKR OK MlMTlA of New Hampshire. 

MERTON A. CHEESMAN, 

Commander of Bristol Train of Artillery. 

MRS. WILLIAM S. SIMS, Commissioner Girl Scouts. 

WILLIAM P. SHEFFIELD, President Boy Scouts. 

JOHN C. CHASE. 

Pre^ident New England Historical and Genealogical Society. 
CHARLES K. BOLTON, President Soc. N. E. Antiquities. 
HOWARD W. PRESTON, President R. I. Historical Society. 
MORGAN B. BRAINARD, President Conn. Historical Society. 
Hon. HENRY CABOT LODGE, President Mass. Historical Soc. 

ALLEN JOHNSON, 

President New Haven County Historical Society. 
ERNEST E. ROGERS, New London County Historical Society. 
FRANK L. TINKHAM, President Old Colony Historical Society. 
H. E. CUSHMAN, President Old Dartmouth Historical Society. 
EVERETT E. WHIPPLE, President Westerly Historical Society. 
LINCOLN BATES, President Jamestown Historical Society. 
Presidents: Peabody Historical Society. 

Plymouth Historical Society. 

Nantucket Historical Society. 

New Hampshire Historical Society. 

Antiquarian Society of Worcester. 



REPRESENTING NEWPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



DR. RODERICK TERRY, President 

FRANK K. S rURGIS, Vice-President 

ALFRED TUCKERMAN, Vice-President 

JUDGE DARIUS BAKER, Vice-President 

WILLIAM STEVENS, Treasurer 

LLOYD M. MAYER, Secretary 

DR. E. P. ROBINSON 

MRS. T. A. LAWTON 

MRS. PAUL FITZSIMONS 

MRS. W. W. COVELL 

MRS. D. B. FEARING 

MRS. HAROLD BROWN 

DR. WILLIAM S. SHERMAN 

MISS EDITH M. TILLEY 



MRS. WILLIAM H. BIRCKHEAD 
MRS. C. L. F. ROBINSON 
JONAS BERGNER, 
MRS. C. C. GARDNER 
L \WRENCE LEWIS GILLESPIE 
MRS. MAUD HOWE ELLIOTT 
MISS AMY L. VARNUM 
H. W. HARE POWEL 

REV. WILLIAM BRENTON GREENE, D. D. 
EDWARD A. SHERMAN. 
T. T. PITMAN 
L. K. CARR 
ALVAH H. SANBORN 
MARION EPPLEY 
I 






THE STORY OF BUTTS HILL FORT 

^ Upon a conspicuous hill near the northern end of the Island of Rhode 
Island, rising gradually above the surrounding country stand these fortifica- 
tions, consisting of earthworks, Enclosing an oblong area some 700 feet long 
by 200 to 300 feet wide. They were built by the British, who then occupied 
tlie Island, in the early part of 1777, as a defence against the approach of the 
American Army, either by Bristol Ferry or by Rowland's Ferry from Tiverton. 

fl When General Sullivan gathered his army to attack the British on Rhode 
Island in the summer of 1778, he describes this as, "A very strong work on 
Butts Hill." It was then occupied by three British regiments. 

^ On the evening of the 8th of August, 1778, the British evacuated the fort, 
retiring to their stronger defences at Newport. 

^ On the 9th, General Sullivan with his forces, crossing from the mainland 
took possession of the fort. 

fl For three weeks it was held by the Americans, being occupied during the 
siege of Newport by the reserves, and those from among the sick who were 
capable of doing garrison duty. 

•I The morning of the 29th, the Americans retired from the lower part of 
the Island, and took up their position in front of and about thiL'fo.'t, which 
during that memorable day, by its heavy guns, played an important part 
in the Battle of Rhode Island and from these ramparts General Sullivan 
directed the movements of the American Army. All day of the 30th its 
great guns bombarded the enemy's works. 

^ On the night of the 30th-31st, the American Army crossed to the main- 
land, and the next day the British again took possession and held the fort 
until October, 1779, when they withdrew their forces from Rhode Island. 

fl During the presence of the French Army upon the Island, in 1780 and 
1781, it was garrisoned by them. 

fl Peace has reigned over these earthworks from that day to this. They 
have not been disturbed by the hand of man, and remain today as they were 
in the time of the Revolution, though overgrown by grass and shrubbery. 

<J During the Civil War the Fort was used as a camp of instruction for a 
short time by some of the Militia of Rhode Island. 

^ Few Revolutionary forts in such good condition and with such an in- 
teresting history, are so worthy of being preserved, as this central base of 
the Continental Army in the Battle of Rhode Island. 




542 J. 













^^* r ^^ 






-^^^-^ ' 











'CR\, 



» , 

In 






^ -jP •'I.Vk'- -^ ^ '■1'°' «^ -jO^ ^^"' 



^°^ 
















<< 




^°-n^. 







,0 < ' 



-^^0^ 



■\ 













.<jv' 




'bv" 























.. / ^%^s/ \^W3\/ \^,y' %W\c/ ^^ 



• %.^" 



i°^ 








•^0^ 



.0^ V'^:^'\^-«-' 









^AO^ 












.-Jv^ .^'•- 










'^(y 




"hv 






/.^^>o .^*\c:^%\ /.^^i^.'^^o .**\c^. '^ / 







'bV 





M.\f 63 

N MANCHESTER, 
INDIANA 










'bv 



5 ♦.,!• .0- "V, 'O." 



•^o^ 





< o 










. U ^^ /^ 







J^ ..... <i>^ 



..^^ 



s.^'JC'.^';^ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



012 608 939 9 



'£ 



^^\i^tm 



^ff^^ 









81 









I':"? ■:'"'* 















